MELBOURNE, Nov 16 AAP - Anyone who lives in Melbourne knows that the sport of cycling is booming, but it can be dangerous and police will target cyclists in black spot areas from Tuesday.It has been a bad year on Victoria's roads and so far this year seven cyclists have been killed, three more than this time last year.Acting Senior Sergeant Robert Zussa said the three-day Operation Nora would aim to ensure cyclists and drivers were riding and driving safely around Melbourne's CBD."Police will not only target offences committed by cyclists but also crack down on drivers compromising their safety," he said.Police may fine drivers and cyclists disobeying traffic signs and lights, failing to wear helmets, motorcyclists using bicycle lanes and vehicles stopping or parking illegally.

Mate of mine was riding down Swanston Street, stopped at the lights on the cnr of Swanston and Flinders lane heading towards St. Kilda Rd he was riding a Time RXR racing bike, he was approached by two cops whom were crossing the road (most probably heading to Brunetti's for there free coffee) they stopped and asked him where his bell is!!

Ofcourse he didn't h ave a bell they hit him with an on the spot fine of $260.00!!

Apparently if you are racing the bell is not required, but it is a legal requirement when your riding on the road or bike path.

Break one... carry it in your jersey pocket. If the Brumby revenue collectors pull you up just take it out of your pocket and say it's cheap plastic crap that just plain broke off because of the amount of times you have to ding ignorant flogs who walk up the middle of the cycle lanes.

wheels46 wrote:Break one... carry it in your jersey pocket. If the Brumby revenue collectors pull you up just take it out of your pocket and say it's cheap plastic crap that just plain broke off because of the amount of times you have to ding ignorant flogs who walk up the middle of the cycle lanes.

Scenario No. 2... I could get flamed for this "however" what's wrong with giving the wallopers a fake name and address also? Last time I checked bikes don't have number plates and riders don't carry rider's licenses. Technically we're invisible.

If the bell is required by law, then why is it not a requirement that bikes are sold with bells as a standard?

This is la la land!

It is actually, the law and the la la ness of it.

IIRC, Vic law states that a bike requires "an audible warning device" (Pedants can google the law themselves). The only bike of mine that runs a bell is me commuter and I've never used it. A shouted "OY!" will get more attention and is orders of magnitude louder than the anaemic tinger that most bikes are sold with.

Fabs, I'd suggest that your mate check the appropriate resources for the gazzetted fine for this "offence" and take it further if needed. Personally, I'd be looking for the opportunity to wheel me bike into court as supporting evidence.

Late change. I decided to not be lazy and googled...

258. Equipment on a bicycleA person must not ride a bicycle that does not haveâ€”(a) at least 1 effective brake; and(b) a bell, horn, or similar warning device, in working order.Penalty: 1 penalty unit.

The bell is required on all bikes at sale when new. Lots don't have them because:a) the buyer asks for it to be removedb) the bike is stated to be used for racingc) it is a custom-built bike (both b and c are exempt from the rule at sale)

Rather than carry a busted bell in your pocket (what a damned nuisance that'd be ) just get a cheap bell and fit it to your seat post or other suitable out of the way place. The law only specifies that it be fitted, nothing about being on the bars

Back in the 70s roadies who wanted to keep legal but have the bell out of the way did this

I know this is very late in the piece but if I came across this thread today someone else is bound to come along behind me so I thought I might put my two cents in.I have a bell on my bike and use it regularly, and by the way peds almost always move out of the way and many actually thank me for using it.The advantages of a bell as far as I can tell are twofold, being so high pitched the sound is very directional and it clearly indicates the intent/source(cyclist).I would stand corrected by someone with greater knowledge but I believe that humans can locate the source of a high pitched sound (bell) far more easily than a low pitched one (voice). A loud OYY unlike the ding of a bell, does not clearly indicate source or intent of the OYYer and tends to startle/frighten the peds rather than simply get them to move to one side.Aside from the simple fact that it is the law, for the sake of one or two grams of additional weight I have the bell available to use, I can do this at sufficient distance that if it is not heard I can still OYYY, but you can not create a bell from thin air if your OYY does not work.By the way my bike did not come with the bell but the next time I was back in the LBS where I purchsed it I mentioned it, and they gave me a couple to see which one I liked (gratis).IMHO as a commuter rather than a racer, it is worth giving the bell a try, even if only to avoid the chance of a fine.Regards,Dave.

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